26 



CHAPTER V. 



WINTER BLOOMING PLANTS. 



In another chapter we have shown that plants breathe; 

 this is not the only particular in which they resemble the Im- 

 man family. Tliey also need rest, just as we do. It seems to 

 be the mission or worli of many plants to produce flowers, 

 others to produce tlieir beautiful foliage. We cannot expect 

 these plants to produce their flowers or foliage all the year 

 without any rest. Those that are grown for their flowers, such 

 as Geraniums and Fuchsias, in the autumn cease blooming and 

 take unto themselves a season of rest. Those that are grown 

 for their elegant and vorigated foliage, while many of them 

 retain their leaves they do not grow^if at all, with that vigor 

 they do at other seasons. All plant culturists have no doubt 

 noticed this. From it we learn that if we would have flowers 

 all the year we must select those which naturally, in our cli- 

 mate, bloom at different seasons. It is true that we can force 

 some varieties into bloom out of their usual season, but this is 

 the exception, not the rule, and they must be rested before we 

 begin to force them, or our efiTorts will result in failure. We 

 w^ill suppose first that we will get those that will naturally 

 bloom in our winter, such os Bouvardia Carnations, Stevia 

 Eupaloriums, &c. It is best to get young plants in the spring; 

 as soon as danger from frost is over these should be taken out 

 of the pots and planted in the garden ; during the summer 

 these should be kept free from weeds, and if the plants will not 

 grow bushy without it, the tops should be pinched out several 

 times during the summer; this will keep the plants short and 

 stocky and tend to strengthen the branches. As a rule the 

 flowers are produced on the points of the branches, so the more 

 strong branches there are the more flowers will be produced. 

 The plants intended for winter blooming should not beallowed 

 to flower during the summer, as some varieties would if per- 

 mitted; as soon as the flower buds appear they should be 

 pinched off". These plants should be lifted and potted at least 

 a month before it is necessarj^ to permanently remove them to 

 their winter quarters. 



In our latitude we usually have plentiful rains in Septem- 



